Newar Dance
Encyclopedia
Newari Dance consists of the whole array of dance
s that are traditionally performed by Newar
s.
The Majipa Lakhey dance is a masked dance characterized by vigorous movements and loud music. It is performed by the Ranjitkar
s of Kathmandu during the Yanya Punhi festival, also known as Indra Jatra, which occurs in September. The dancer and his attendants wander about the streets setting the tone of the festivities. The Gunla Lakhey dance is a similar street performance which tours various parts of the city during Gunla, the tenth month in the Nepal Sambat
calendar, which corresponds to August. Almost all Newar settlements have a Lakhey
dance troupe.
Charya Nritya (Chachaa Pyakhan in Nepal Bhasa
) is a Buddhist ritual dance with a history going back more than 1,000 years. It is performed by Newar Buddhist priests known as Bajracharya
as part of their esoteric meditation practices and rituals. The dancers represent various deities like the Five Buddhas, Manjusri
, Vajrayogini and Tara
. The song accompanying the dance opens with a salutation and describes the deity's characteristics and accessories. Performances were shown only to the initiated. The first public showing was held during the Fourth World Buddhist Conference held in Kathmandu in 1956.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
s that are traditionally performed by Newar
Newar
The Newa , Newār or Newāl) are the indigenous people and the creators of the historical civilization of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. The valley and surrounding territory have been known from ancient times as Nepal Mandala, its limits ever changing through history.Newas have lived in the Kathmandu...
s.
Classification
The Newar dances can be classified as- Traditional Masked dances
- Lakhey dance
- Astamatrika dance
- Navadurga dance
- Pulukisi dance (elephant dance),
- Sawabhakku,
- Neelbarahi Naach, Bode, Madhyapur Thimi
The Majipa Lakhey dance is a masked dance characterized by vigorous movements and loud music. It is performed by the Ranjitkar
Ranjitkar
Ranjitkar is one of the castes of Newar. The Newari caste system is divided according to profession...
s of Kathmandu during the Yanya Punhi festival, also known as Indra Jatra, which occurs in September. The dancer and his attendants wander about the streets setting the tone of the festivities. The Gunla Lakhey dance is a similar street performance which tours various parts of the city during Gunla, the tenth month in the Nepal Sambat
Nepal Sambat
Nepal Sambat is the national lunar calendar of Nepal. It was used throughout Medieval Nepal, and into early modern Nepal, until Chandra Sumsher decided to remove it in BS 1960. It was started in 880 AD during the reign of King Raghav Dev to commemorate the payment of all the debts of Nepalese...
calendar, which corresponds to August. Almost all Newar settlements have a Lakhey
Lakhey
Lakhey is a famous character in Newar culture[]. It is a demon character popularized by its drunken dance accompanied by "pulukishi".Lakhey is a saviour of children....
dance troupe.
- Folk Dances
- Jyapu dance,
- Kumar pyakhan,
- Daitya pyakhan,
- Tekanpur dance
- Ritual Dances
- Charya dance
- Gathu Pyakhan, Kathmandu
Charya Nritya (Chachaa Pyakhan in Nepal Bhasa
Nepal Bhasa
Nepal Bhasa is one of the major languages of Nepal, and is also spoken in India, particularly in Sikkim where it is one of the 11 official languages. Nepal Bhasa is the mother tongue of about 3% of the people in Nepal . It is spoken mainly by the Newars, who chiefly inhabit the towns of the...
) is a Buddhist ritual dance with a history going back more than 1,000 years. It is performed by Newar Buddhist priests known as Bajracharya
Bajracharya
A Bajracharya or Vajracharya is a Vajrayana Buddhist priest among the Newar communities of Nepal and a Revered Teacher who is highly attained in the Tibetan and Chinese Esoteric Schools. Vajracharya means 'vajra holding priest'...
as part of their esoteric meditation practices and rituals. The dancers represent various deities like the Five Buddhas, Manjusri
Manjusri
Mañjuśrī is a bodhisattva associated with transcendent wisdom in Mahāyāna Buddhism. In Esoteric Buddhism he is also taken as a meditational deity. The Sanskrit name Mañjuśrī can be translated as "Gentle Glory"...
, Vajrayogini and Tara
Tara
-Religions and deities:*Tara , is a tantric meditation deity in Tibetan Buddhism, actually the generic name for a set of similar bodhisattvas*In Hinduism:*Tara , a Mahavidya of Mahadevi, Kali or Parvati...
. The song accompanying the dance opens with a salutation and describes the deity's characteristics and accessories. Performances were shown only to the initiated. The first public showing was held during the Fourth World Buddhist Conference held in Kathmandu in 1956.